Abstact

Rotary ATPases, including F1FO-, V1VO-, and A1AO-ATPases, are molecular motors that exhibit rotational movements for energy conversion. In the gliding bacterium, Mycoplasma mobile, a dimeric F1-like ATPase forms a chain structure within the cell, which is proposed to drive the gliding motility. However, the mechanisms of force generation and transmission remain unclear. We determined the electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the dimeric F1-like ATPase complex. The structure revealed an assembly distinct from those of dimeric F1FO-ATPases. The F1-like ATPase unit associated by two subunits GliD and GliE was named G1-ATPase as an R1 domain of rotary ATPases. G1-β subunit, a homolog of the F1-ATPase catalytic subunit, exhibited a specific N-terminal region that incorporates the glycolytic enzyme, phosphoglycerate kinase into the complex. Structural features of the ATPase displayed strong similarities to F1-ATPase, suggesting a rotation based on the rotary catalytic mechanism. Overall, the cryo-EM structure provides insights into the mechanism through which G1-ATPase drives the Mycoplasma gliding motility.